Venice

Belgium canal city of Bruges hits 'red line' with tourist crowds

Inhabitants of Belgium's cobblestone-and-canal city of Bruges are clear: Summertime tourism has hit capacity.

"It's really reached a red line now," says one, 55-year-old architect Arnout Goegebuer, as he sits inside a cafe, peering out a window across a packed outside terrace.

"We don't need more tourists anymore, it's enough - maybe a little bit less" is needed, he says.

Venice readies day-trip booking system to ease crowds

Venice plans to trial a reservation system for day-trippers, an official said Wednesday, in a bid to ease over-tourism as visitors flock back to the Italian city following the pandemic.

The pay-to-visit scheme will not cap tourist numbers but aims to entice some people to visit during the low season by charging them less.

St Mark’s palazzo opens doors for the first time

For centuries the impressive arcades flanking St Mark's Square in Venice have embodied the watery city's elegance, harmony, and architectural significance.

Now, the Renaissance-era palazzo whose galleries span as far as the eye can see on the north side of the square opened to the public for the first time on April 8, following a three-year renovation.

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